In the wake of Michigan's thrilling national championship victory, the celebration in Ann Arbor isn't the only thing making noise. A two-year-old social media take from an Ohio State insider has roared back to life, serving as a brutal reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in college basketball.
Dusty May cemented his legacy Monday night, guiding the Michigan Wolverines to a historic 69-63 win over the mighty UConn Huskies. The victory secured the program's second-ever men's basketball title and completed a staggering two-year transformation under May's leadership. The triumph has fans and rivals alike looking back at the coaching carousel of 2024 with a much clearer—and for some, more painful—perspective.
A Prediction That Aged Like Milk
As the confetti fell at Lucas Oil Stadium, a Reddit user unearthed a post from March 22, 2024, that has since gone viral. The post featured a tweet from Bucknuts editor David Biddle, a prominent voice in Ohio State media. At the time, shortly after Michigan hired May away from Florida Atlantic, Biddle boldly stated that Ohio State had "dodged a bullet with Dusty May," downplaying May's Cinderella run to the 2023 Final Four as a "lucky postseason."
Fast forward to 2026, and that assessment has not aged well. While May was cutting down the nets, Ohio State's program, under head coach Jake Diebler, watched from home after a first-round NCAA tournament exit at the hands of TCU. The Buckeyes' drought now stretches to four seasons without a March Madness win and over a decade since advancing past the tournament's second round.
From Afterthought to Juggernaut
May's impact in Ann Arbor cannot be overstated. He inherited a program that had bottomed out at 8-24 (3-17 in the Big Ten) in Juwan Howard's final season. The turnaround was immediate, with a Sweet 16 run in Year One. This season, the Wolverines became a powerhouse, setting a school record with 37 wins and dominating the Big Ten with just a single conference loss.
Their NCAA tournament run was a masterclass, winning six games by a combined 113 points. The championship victory was a testament to May's culture, a point not lost on Michigan legends. In fact, the Fab Five reportedly delivered a powerful message to key players before the title game, underscoring the program's renewed standard.
The Awkward Walk-Back
To his credit, Biddle acknowledged his misfire in the aftermath of Michigan's win. "Hats off to Michigan and my boy Dusty May (yeah, I know)," he wrote in a follow-up post. "Very impressive. Wasn't hoping it would be you guys, but nice work ending the Big Ten's streak of not winning a natty in hoops. See you in the sport I really care about in November."
The attempt to pivot the conversation to football season speaks volumes. For many in Columbus, the focus has already shifted, a sentiment Biddle's final line perfectly captures. The rivalry, however, just gained a massive new chapter. While Michigan celebrates its hardwood hero, the debate over which school truly "dodged a bullet" in the 2024 coaching search has been decisively settled.
The story even drew attention beyond the sports world, with former President Barack Obama saluting Michigan's championship run. Meanwhile, the viral nature of Biddle's old post is a stark lesson in the digital age: the internet never forgets. It's a scenario familiar to other sports media figures, like ESPN's Holly Rowe, who recently deleted a critical tweet about another program.
For now, Ann Arbor is basking in the glow of a championship secured by the coach they got, while Columbus is left to ponder the one that got away—a narrative forever preserved in a two-year-old tweet that came back with a vengeance.
